The Plague

The havoc this pestilence has caused and is still causing in Bombay and other towns and villages hardly needs to be mentioned. In just two years thousands of children have been orphaned and thousands of homes have been left desolate. Friends have forever been separated from friends, and relatives from relatives. And there is still no end in sight. There can be no doubt that, out of great sympathy and concern for its people, our kind government has taken all necessary measures, and has taken upon itself expenditure of hundreds of thousands of rupees, and has publicized medical instructions as widely as possible. But this killer disease has not yet been fully eradicated. It is in fact on the rise in Bombay, and the land of the Punjab is undoubtedly in danger. At such a time everyone should come out to help mankind, according to his knowledge and understanding, for one who is lacking in sympathy is not a man…

There is yet another important thing which my overwhelming sympathy for mankind has moved me to mention. I know it well that those who are devoid of spirituality will look upon it with jest and ridicule, but it is my duty to reveal it for the benefit of mankind. It is as follows: This is Sunday, 6th February, 1898. Last night I saw in a dream that God’s angels were planting black trees in different parts of the Punjab. The trees were black, ugly, terrifying and of small size. I asked some of those who were planting them, ‘What kind of trees are these?’ They made answer, ‘These are trees of the plague which is about to spread in the country.’ I am not quite sure whether it was said that the plague would spread during the next winter or the winter after, but it was a terrible sight that I saw. Prior to this I had also received a Revelation concerning the plague:

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It means that until the epidemic of sinfulness goes away, the physical epidemic will also not go away. The fact is that evil has become rampant in the country, and love for God has cooled down, and a storm of greed and lust has taken its place. Most hearts have ceased to fear God and epidemics have come to be seen as ordinary afflictions that can be eradicated by human endeavours. Sin of every description is being committed with great brazenness. I do not speak of other communities, but those who call themselves Muslims, particularly the poor and deprived among them, indulge shamelessly in theft and fraud, and resort to unlawful means; they tell lies liberally, engage in all sorts of despicable and loathsome activities, and live like savages. They do not even wash their faces or clothes for days, let alone offer their daily prayers. As for the rich, and the chiefs and lords, and the big businessmen, and landowners, and contractors, and other wealthy people, most of them are steeped in licentiousness, and are given to drinking, adultery, immorality and extravagance. They are Muslims in name only. They are totally indifferent to religious matters and have no sympathy for their faith.

Now, since the Revelation which I have just mentioned shows that this is a matter of Taqdir-e-Mu‘allaq [Conditional Destiny] and can be averted through repentance, seeking God’s forgiveness, doing good deeds, renouncing sin, offering charity, and bringing about a pious change in oneself, I therefore urge everyone to adopt piety from the bottom of their hearts, and occupy themselves with righteous deeds, and renounce all transgression and depravity. Muslims should sincerely follow the commandments of Allah, observe the daily prayers and eschew all kinds of sinful and immoral acts. They should repent and do good deeds, while fearing and remembering Allah, the Almighty. They should conduct themselves kindly towards the poor, the neighbours, the orphans, the widows, the wayfarers and other helpless people. They must offer charity and alms and offer their prayers with congregation. They should cry and beseech God in their prayers so as to be saved from this calamity. They should wake up in the small hours of the night and supplicate in their prayers. In short, they should perform all kinds of good deeds and avoid wrongdoing of every description, and should fear God Who, in His wrath, can destroy the whole world in an instant…

Remember, these are extremely perilous times, and the calamity is close at hand! Be virtuous, and perform good deeds. God Almighty is Most Forbearing, but at the same time His wrath is a fire that consumes everything. He does not allow the virtuous to be wasted.

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[Majmu‘ah Ishtiharat, Vol. 3, pp. 2-7]

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People have all kinds of views about this terrible disease that is spreading fast in the country. Physicians, whose thinking is limited to physical causes, insist that it is caused by a natural process which produces certain germs in the earth. These germs first infect rats, and then the disease spreads among human beings who start dying in large numbers. They believe that religion has nothing to do with this pestilence, and advise people to keep their houses and drains free from filth and stagnation, and disinfect them regularly with phenol and other such chemicals. They should also keep their houses warm with fire, and build them in a way that admits both air and sunlight. There should be no overcrowding in houses, for the germs might proliferate through breath, urine or excrement. Unhygienic food must be avoided. And the best remedy is to get inoculated. People must vacate houses where dead rats are found, and it would be better for them to live in open spaces and avoid using dirty clothes. Moreover, they should not let anyone enter their towns or villages who comes from an infected or plagued area. And should anyone who falls prey to this disease, should be expelled from the village or town, and people must avoid coming into contact with such a person. Thus, according to these people, this is all that can be done with regard to the plague. This then is the opinion of intelligent doctors and physicians. I neither see it as an adequate or permanent remedy, nor do I dismiss it as utterly futile. I do not consider it adequate because experience has shown that some people have died even though they had moved out of their dwellings and some have departed from this world even though they took all the necessary hygienic measures. Others got vaccinated with great hopes but still landed in their graves. Hence who can claim or reassure us that these measures constitute an adequate remedy? In fact one has to admit that although all these measures are effective to a degree, they cannot by any means be considered a complete success in stamping out the plague from this country.

At the same time these measures are not completely useless, and are proving beneficial wherever God has so willed, but it is not something to be jubilant about. It is true that if, for instance, a hundred people have been inoculated and the same number have not been inoculated, the rate of mortality is comparatively higher among those who were not inoculated. But since inoculation is only effective for up to two or three months at the most, those who are inoculated will continue to be at risk until they die. The difference is that whereas those who do not get inoculated are riding on a horse which can convey them to the valley of death in twenty-four hours, those who do get inoculated are riding on a slow-moving pony that will take them to the same place in twenty-four days. At any rate, all the medical measures that have been adopted are neither fully satisfactory, nor utterly ineffectual. And since the plague is devouring the country so rapidly, our compassion for mankind demands that we should find some alternative method for averting this calamity.

Muslims—as is evident from the announcement published during this month, April 1902, by Mian Shams-ud-Din, Secretary, Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam, Lahore—seem to stress the idea that all sects of the Muslims, Shiites, Sunnis, Muqallid5 and non-Muqallid, should gather in open spaces on one particular day and should supplicate and pray according to their respective tenets. This, in their view, is the formula which can instantly do away with the plague. But they do not say how it will possible for them to all come together. How will it be possible for the Hanafis to pray along with the Wahabis, when the latter do not consider it lawful to pray without reciting Fatihah. Would this not result in a conflict between them? Besides, the author of the announcement does not suggest what the Hindus should do to ward off this pestilence. Would it be permissible for them to seek help from their idols at such a time? And what method should the Christians adopt? And what about the sects which regard Hazrat Hussain (ra) or Hazrat ‘Ali (ra) to be the ‘fulfillers of all needs’, and submit to them thousands of entreaties for the fulfilment of their desires during the taziyahs in Muharram? Similarly, what should the Muslims do who worship Sayyed ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani, or Shah Madar, or Sakhi Sarwar? Moreover, are not all these sects already praying? The fact is that every sect is frightened and is calling out to its own ‘deity’. Go and visit Shia neighbourhoods, you will hardly find a house without this couplet written on its door:

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One of my teachers was a revered Shia. He used to say that the only way to be immune against an epidemic is tawalla and tabarra, which means to take one’s love for the Imams of the Ahl-e-Bait to the degree of worship, and to keep abusing the Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sas). He believed that there could be no better remedy. I have heard that when the plague broke out in Bombay, people at first thought that it was a miracle of Imam Hussain, for it had begun to spread among the Hindus who had quarrelled with the Shias. But when the same disease stepped into the Shia households, the chants of ‘Ya Hussain!’ died down.

These then are the methods which the Muslims have devised for fighting the plague!

The Christian point of view has recently been expressed in an announcement by Padre White Brecht and his Association. They claim that no remedy can be successful against the plague unless people accept Jesus as God and believe in the Atonement.

Among the Hindus, it is the Aryas who are crying themselves hoarse proclaiming that this calamity is only the result of the abandonment of the Vedas, and that all sects should believe in the truth of the Vedas, and should declare all Prophets to be impostors—God forbid—only then will the plague disappear.

Another Hindu sect, Sanatan Dharam, has also expressed its own opinion about getting rid of the plague. Had I not read the newspaper Akhbar-e-‘Am, I would probably have remained unaware of this bizarre view. According to them this pestilence has broken out because of the cow, and if government would only pass the law that cows in this country should never be slaughtered, you will see how the plague disappears. Elsewhere, the same newspaper reports that a certain individual heard a cow saying, ‘It is only because of me that the plague has come to this country.’

Now, readers! think for yourselves, which one of these conflicting statements and claims should the world accept as true? These are matters of faith and the world will probably come to an end sooner than people can reach a decision about them. Let us, therefore, accept what is easily understood and is supported by evidence, and it is as follows:

Four years ago I published a prophecy that a severe plague was about to break out in the Punjab. I saw that black trees of the plague were being planted in every town and village of this land, and that if the people repented the disease would not last more than two winters and God would remove it. But, instead of showing any sign of repentance, they continued to abuse me and published announcements full of foul language against me. The result is the plague you are witnessing now. This is the holy word of God that I received:

i.e., Allah has willed not to remove this pestilence until and unless people do away with the thoughts lurking in their hearts. In other words, until they accept the Prophet and Messenger of God, the plague shall not go away. And the All-Powerful God shall protect Qadian against the ravages of the plague, in order to show you that it was spared only because a Messenger of God was present in it. Just look! the last three years testify that both these aspects have been fulfilled. First, the plague has spread throughout the Punjab, and, secondly, Qadian is safe from plague, despite the fact that it is wreaking havoc all around it outside a two-kilometre radius. Moreover, anyone who has come to Qadian, after being afflicted by the plague, has been cured. Could there be greater proof than the fact that everything that had been foretold four years ago has come to pass? In fact the plague had been foretold twenty-two years ago in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, and no one possesses such foreknowledge, except God. The message that God revealed to me for removing this disease is that people should wholeheartedly accept me as the Promised Messiah. Had I made a mere claim without an argument, as Mian Shams-ud-Din, Secretary, Himayat-e-Islam Lahore, or Padre White Brecht have done in their announcements, I too could be accused of talking irrationally, whereas the fact is that whatever I had foretold has come to pass.

And only recently God has revealed to me:

Translation: Allah would not chastise them while you are among them. He has given shelter to this town. Were it not for honouring thee, this town, would have been destroyed. I am the Gracious One Who removes affliction. My Messengers are not afraid in My presence. I am keeping watch. I shall stand with My Messenger, and shall rebuke the one who rebukes him. I keep a fast and break the fast. I am greatly wroth. Disease will spread and people will die except those who believe and do not adulterate their faith with the least wrong. For them is security and they are rightly guided. We are reducing the earth from its boundaries. I am preparing My armies and they will be left in their homes prone on their faces. We shall show them Our signs in the universe and in their own selves. Help from Allah and clear victory. I have made a bargain with thee. My Lord has made a bargain with me. You are to Me like My children. You are from Me and I am from you. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praiseworthy station. The above is with thee and the below is with thy enemies. Then, be steadfast till the decree of Allah arrives. There will come a time upon hell when there will be no one in it.

Now this revelation proves three things: (1) The plague has visited the world because the Promised Messiah, who is from God, has not only been rejected, but has also been tormented. Plots have been hatched to kill him, and he has been called a disbeliever and Dajjal. God, therefore, did not want His Messenger to remain without testimony … (2) The second point established by this Revelation is that the plague will go away when people accept the Messenger of God, or, at the very least, desist from hurting him and using foul language against him … (3) The third point established by this Revelation is that, as long as the plague stays in the world, even if it were to persist for seventy years, God Almighty will always protect Qadian from its ravages, because it is the seat of His Messenger. This is a sign for all nations.

Now, anyone who denies this Divine Messenger and this sign, and thinks that despite opposing and defying this Messenger, the plague can be eradicated merely by resorting to ceremonial prayers, or by worshipping Christ, or through the blessings of the cow, or by believing in the Vedas, he is quite mistaken in this belief, as it is without proof. Thus, if anyone among these religious sects wishes to establish the truth of his religion, this is an excellent opportunity for him. It is as though God has prepared a testing ground for ascertaining the truth or falsity of all religions. And He has put forward the name of Qadian in advance. Now if the Aryas believe the Vedas to be true, they should make a prophecy that Banaras—the centre for Vedic learning—will be protected from the plague by their Parmeshwar. And the followers of Sanatan Dharam should also make a prophecy about any town, such as Amritsar—where cows are to be found in abundance—and claim that, by the blessing of the cow, the plague will not enter that town. If the cow, somehow, succeeds in showing such a miracle, the government will no doubt protect the life of such a miracle-working animal. Similarly, the Christians should prophesy that Calcutta will not be struck by the plague, because the chief Bishop of British India resides in that city. Likewise, Mian Shams-ud-Din, along with the members of his Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam, should make a prophecy that Lahore shall remain immune to the plague. This is also an ideal opportunity for Munshi Ilahi Bakhsh, Accountant, who claims to be the recipient of revelation, to lend a helping hand to Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam by making a prophecy concerning Lahore based on his own revelation. And it would be quite in order if ‘Abdul Jabbar and ‘Abdul Haq should also make a prophecy about Amritsar. Since Delhi is the bastion of the Wahabi sect, it would be quite appropriate for Nadhir Hussain and Muhammad Hussain to make a prophecy that that city will remain immune from the plague. In this way, the entire Punjab will be saved from this fatal disease, and the government will also be relieved and saved a great deal of expenditure. But if these people fail in this, it will necessarily follow that the true God is He Who has sent His Messenger in Qadian.

In the end, remember that if all these people—who include the claimants of revelation from among the Muslims, pundits of the Aryas, and padres of the Christians—remain silent, it will prove that they are all false. And the day comes when Qadian will shine forth like the sun, for it is the Seat of a Truthful One.

Lastly, let me say that you, Mian Shams-ud-Din, hope in vain that your prayers will be accepted on the basis of the following Quranic verse which you have published in your announcement:

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This is because the word of God contains the term Mudtar, which signifies a person who has fallen into distress, not as a punishment, but only by way of a trial. Hence it does not apply to anyone whose distress is a result of Divine chastisement. If this were not so, then the prayers which were offered by the people of Noah, the people of Lot, and Pharaoh, in their hour of distress, they must also have been accepted. But nothing of the kind happened, and God’s hand destroyed those people. If Mian Shams-ud-Din were to ask which verse applies to his condition, I would quote the this verse:

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Since it is quite probable that some simple-minded people may misunderstand the true purpose of this announcement, I would therefore like to reiterate the message that is obligatory upon me. The plague has broken out in this country only because people have refused to accept the Promised One who, in keeping with the prophecies of all the Prophets (as), has appeared in the seventh millennium. People have not only rejected him, but have hurled abuses at this Messiah who has come from God. They have called him a disbeliever, they have attempted to kill him, and have done to him as they wished. That is why God’s honour willed that a warning be sent to them in consequence of their audacity and their insolence. God had already informed in the earlier holy scriptures that, at the time of the advent of the Messiah, a severe plague would break out in the country because people would reject him. Thus the plague was inevitable. The plague is also called Ta‘un because it is the answer to those who Ta‘n [taunt]. Among the Israelites also we find that the plague would always break out when they taunted [the Prophets]. According to Arabic lexicon, Ta‘un means one who is always taunting others. This signifies that the plague does not break out in the initial stage of taunts and slurs, and it only breaks out when the Messenger and Appointed One of God has been persecuted and insulted in the extreme. So, my dear ones! there is absolutely no remedy against it except that His Messiah be accepted wholeheartedly and in all sincerity. This is a sure remedy. But a lesser remedy is that people must refrain from rejecting him, and must hold their tongues from uttering profanities against him, and must realize his true status. Mark my words, the time comes— indeed it is close at hand—when people will rush towards me saying:

These are the words of God, and they mean, ‘O you, who has been commissioned as Messiah for the people! do intercede for us with regard to this killer disease.’ You must understand that the only intercessor you have today, apart from the Holy Prophet (sas), is this Messiah. And this Messiah is not separate from the Holy Prophet (sas). His intercession is in fact the intercession of the Holy Prophet (sas). O Christian missionaries! stop crying, ‘Messiah is our Lord’, for there is one before you who is greater than that Messiah. And, O Shias! do not insist that Hussain is your redeemer, for I truly say that today there is one amongst you who is greater than Hussain. I am a liar if I say these things on my own; but if I say this on the basis of God’s testimony, then do not challenge Him, lest you be counted among those who fight Him. Hasten towards me, for now is the time. He who rushes towards me now is like him who finds safety in a ship during a terrible storm. But he who does not believe in me, I see him throwing himself into the storm with nothing to protect him. I am the true intercessor, for I am the shadow of the Exalted Intercessor, whom the blind of his age did not accept and tried to denigrate, namely, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). That is why God took revenge from the padres for this sin with just one word: Since the Christian missionaries deified Jesus son of Maryas and abused our lord and mastersa, who is the true intercessor, and defiled the world with books full of foul language, God sent the Promised Messiah among the Muslims, and this Messiah far excelled the earlier Messiah who had been considered ‘God’. What is more, God named this Messiah ‘Ghulam-e-Ahmad’ [Slave of Ahmad (sas)] to expose the reality of the divinity of the Christian Messiah, who cannot compare even to a humble slave of Ahmad (sas)! In other words, what sort of Messiah was he, who, in his nearness to God and in his status as an intercessor, was far inferior to the slave of Ahmad (sas)?

My dear ones! this is not something to be angry about. If you do not believe that this ‘Slave of Ahmad’, who has been sent as the Promised Messiah, is superior to the earlier Messiah, and continue to declare that the latter alone is your intercessor and saviour, then come forth and prove your claim. God has said regarding this ‘Slave of Ahmad’:

This means that God protected the village of Qadian from the plague in order to manifest the true standing of this Intercessor. And you can see that it has indeed been immune to the plague for the last five, six years. God further says that had He not willed to demonstrate the glory and honour of this ‘Slave of Ahmad’, He would have caused havoc in Qadian as well. Now, if you believe that Jesus son of Mary is the true intercessor and saviour, then you too should point out a city in the Punjab, as against Qadian, and declare that that city shall remain free from the plague by the blessing and intercession of your Lord Jesus. And if you fail to do so, then pause for a moment and ponder; One whose intercession is not proven even in this world, how can he intercede for you in the hereafter?…

Here is an excellent opportunity for Maulavi Ahmad Hasan of Amroha to compete with me, for I have heard that, in order to defend his polytheistic belief, he too is striving, like other Maulavis, to somehow save Jesus son of Mary from death, and to bring him back from heaven, and to make him Khatam-ul-Anbiya’…but if Maulavi Ahmad Hasan remains adamant, then the time has come for him to be informed through the Heavenly Decree. That is to say, if he really believes me to be a liar and regards my revelations as human fabrications and not the word of God, then the straightforward course is that, just as I have declared on the basis of Divine revelation:

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so should he declare:

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God hears the prayers of the believers. What kind of believer would he be whose own prayers are not heard while the prayers of the one whom he considers to be a Dajjal, non-believer and impostor are accepted?...If, by virtue of his imaginary Messiah, he does succeed in having his prayer heard, and God does agree to spare Amroha, this will not only constitute a great victory for him but will also be an act of great kindness for the people of Amroha, and they will not be able to thank him enough. It seems appropriate that within fifteen days of the publication of this announcement, he too should publish an announcement containing the Mubahala in the following terms:

‘I publish this announcement in response to that of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who has claimed to be the Promised Messiah. I, being a true believer, hereby announce—placing my trust in the acceptance of prayer, or on the basis of some revelation or dream— that Amroha will most certainly remain safe from the ravages of the plague, while Qadian will be ruined, for it is the dwelling-place of an impostor.’

Such an announcement will probably decide the issue by the next winter, or by the second or third winter at most…

Since the Punjab is closest to the residence of the Promised Messiah, and the Punjabis are the first to be addressed by him, that is why the Punjab has been the first to suffer from this epidemic. But Amroha is not beyond the reach of the Promised Messiah’s spiritual influence either, and his breath—which annihilates the disbelievers—is certain to reach Amroha as well. This certainly is my claim. If Maulavi Ahmad Hasan, after publishing the above announcement—which he must publish under oath—is able to protect Amroha from the plague for at least three winters, then surely I am not from God. Can there be a better way of reaching a decision? For my part, I swear by God Almighty that I am the Promised Messiah, the same whose advent was promised by the Prophets (as). There is a prophecy regarding me and my time in the Torah, in the Gospels, as well as in the Holy Quran, which says that lunar and solar eclipses shall occur at the time and a severe plague shall visit the earth.

This then is my sign: If any of my opponents— whether he lives in Amroha, in Amritsar, in Delhi, in Calcutta, in Lahore, in Golra, or in Batala—declares under oath that his particular town will remain immune from the plague, then let me tell you that that town will most certainly be hit by the epidemic, for such a person shall be guilty of insolence towards God.

[Dafe‘-ul-Bala, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 18, pp. 221-238]

Since God Almighty knew that the plague would break out in this country on a large scale, and even Qadian would not remain completely immune from it, He had, therefore, already revealed to me twentythree years ago that anyone who would enter this mosque and this house, with sincerity and faith, would be saved from the plague. In the same context, He also said to me in those days:

This means: I shall safeguard all those who dwell in thy house from death by the plague, with the exception of those who are arrogant and think highly of themselves. And I shall particularly safeguard thee. Peace be on you from God, the Merciful.

Let it be known that the word of God has divided His Will regarding Qadian into two parts: (1) The first concerns this village as a whole, which means that this village will remain immune from the severity of the plague that causes chaos and destruction and leaves the whole village in ruins. (2) The second Divine will is that the Merciful God will protect this house in particular, and will keep it safe from the torment suffered by the other dwellers of the village. The latter part of the Revelation constitutes a warning for those whose hearts are full of arrogance.

Therefore, I advise my Jama‘at to eschew arrogance, for arrogance is most repulsive in the sight of our Glorious God. Perhaps you do not realize what arrogance is. Come and ask me, for I speak by the spirit of God.

[Nuzul-ul-Masih, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 18, pp. 401-402]

I had the following dream about the plague: I saw an animal which was as large as an elephant, but its face resembled that of a man and some of its limbs were like those of other animals. And I saw that the hand of Providence had created it just like that. I found myself sitting in a place and all around me were forests which were full of oxen, donkeys, horses, dogs, swine, wolves, camels, and so on. I was made to understand that all these were actually human beings who had been given these shapes because of their misdeeds. Then I saw that the animal, which was huge as an elephant and was a compound of various forms, and which had emerged from the earth by Providence, came and sat down near me with its face pointing to the north. It seemed to be a silent creature and modesty was apparent from its eyes. Every few minutes it would run into one of the forests, and, the moment it entered, cries like doomsday would be heard from there. It would start devouring the animals and one could hear it chewing their bones. After every such raid it would come back and sit down close to me for some ten or so minutes, after which it would charge into some other forest, and the same things would take place as before, after which it would again return to me. Its eyes were very large and I studied it carefully each time it came back. It would convey to me, by the expression of its face, that it was helpless in the matter, and was only doing what it was commanded. It appeared to me to be a gentle and pious creature, who did nothing on its own, but only did whatever it was commanded to do.

Then it was conveyed to me that this animal was in fact the plague, and was [the insect of the earth], regarding which God had promised in the Holy Quran that He would bring it out in the latter days, and it would bite people because they did not believe in His signs. God Almighty says:

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… He again says:

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… In short, the very [insect of the earth] mentioned in these verses had always been destined to appear at the time of the Promised Messiah. It was the same animal of many features that I had seen in my dream. And it was put in my heart that this was the germ of the plague, which God had named ‘the insect of the earth’ because this disease is caused by germs that come out of the earth. It first affects rats and then assumes various forms. Just as it affects people, so does it affect every other animal, and that is why it was shown to me in various forms in the vision.

[Nuzul-ul-Masih, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 18, pp. 415-417]

God be thanked that the British government, showing kindness to its subjects, has once again advised inoculation against the plague, and has undertaken the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of rupees for their welfare. It is the duty of wise subjects to welcome this action with gratitude. Anyone who views the inoculation with mistrust is not only naive but is his own enemy, for it has been observed time and again that this cautious government is averse to administering any hazardous treatment, and prescribes only remedies that have been thoroughly tested and proven to be effective. It is against the norms of honesty and civility to attribute ulterior motives to the government which is continuing to spending millions of rupees out of genuine sympathy for its subjects. Unfortunate are the people who reach such a degree of suspicion and mistrust. There can be no doubt that inoculation is by far the best physical remedy that the government has found, and there is no denying that this remedy has proven to be effective. It is the duty of the people to make use of all available means so that the government can be relieved of the pain it feels for them. But we must say to this kind government, with all due respect, that had there not been a Heavenly prohibition for us, we would have been the first to get inoculated. The Heavenly prohibition is that God in this age desires to show a sign of His mercy to mankind. Addressing me, He said, ‘You and those who dwell inside your house, and those who become identified with you through perfect obedience and complete righteousness, shall be safeguarded against the plague. This will be a Divine sign in the latter days so that He might demonstrate a distinction between people. But those who do not follow you completely are not of you. Be not anxious on their account.’ This is a Divine guarantee, on account of which I myself and all those who dwell within my house have no need to be inoculated. As I have mentioned, God—Who is the Lord of heaven and earth, and nothing lies outside Whose knowledge and power—revealed to me long ago that He would save from the plague everyone who lives inside this house, provided he gives up all antagonism and enters into the allegiance of Bai‘at in all sincerity, humility and submission. He must not be arrogant, wilful, proud, vain or heedless towards God’s commands and His Appointed One, and his conduct must be in conformity with the teachings. He has also told me that Qadian will be saved from such ravages of the plague that cause people to die like dogs and become mad with grief, and that the members of this Jama‘at, however large in number, will be safe against the plague as compared to those who are opposed to me. But such of my followers may fall prey to the plague who do not fully abide by their Bai‘at, or concerning whom there is some hidden reason in the knowledge of God. But in the end people will marvel and acknowledge that, by comparison, Divine support is with these people, and that He has saved them through His special mercy in a way that has no precedence. Some people will be startled to hear this, others will laugh, some others will denounce me as mad, and still others will wonder if such a God really exists Who can send down His mercy without resorting to the physical means. The answer is, yes, such a God does indeed exist, and if He did not, those who are close to Him would have died a living death. He is wonderfully Omnipotent and marvellous are His holy powers. While, on the one hand, He allows the ignorant opponents to attack His friends like dogs, on the other hand He commands His angels to serve them. In the same way, when His wrath comes upon the world and His anger surges against the wrongdoers, His Eye protects His chosen ones. Otherwise, the whole mission of godly people would end in disarray and no one would recognize them. His powers are limitless, but they are revealed to people in proportion to their belief. Those who are blessed with faith and love and are totally lost in Him, and break free from selfish habits, it is for their sake that miracles are shown. God does what He wills, but He chooses to demonstrate His miraculous powers only to those who break from their habits for His sake. In this day and age there are very few people who know Him and believe in His amazing powers. But there are many who have no belief whatsoever in the All-Powerful God, Whose voice is heard by everything and for Whom nothing is impossible.

Let it be remembered that to get treatment for the plague or other diseases is not a sin. In fact it is recorded in a Hadith that there is no disease for which God has not created a remedy. But I consider it a sin to make this sign dubious by getting inoculated, for it is a sign which God, for our sake, wishes to demonstrate clearly in the world. I dare not demean His true sign and His true word by resorting to inoculation. If I did, I would be accountable for the sin of not believing in the promise that God had given to me. If I resort to inoculation, then I should be grateful to the doctor who invented the injection, and not to God Who promised me that He would protect everyone dwelling in this house.

I proclaim by way of insight that the promises of the Omnipotent God are indeed true. And I see the coming days as if they have already come.

[Kashti Nuh, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 19, pp. 1-3]